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Agent: Dwight Howard will not sign extension with team that acquires him

Prospective teams seeking assurances that they will be able to get Dwight Howard's John Hancock on a contract extension before he hits the open market next summer might be waiting a long time, according to his agent.

Dan Fegan told Ric Bucher of ESPN.com: "Dwight's position has remained unchanged since the end of this past season. He fully intends to explore free agency at the end of next season, regardless of what team trades for him, including Brooklyn."

Nets general manager Billy King confirmed to Bucher that his team never insisted that Howard commit to an extension.

Of course, this could all be semantics. Because Howard is limited to a three-year extension by the CBA, and he can sign a five-year deal if he reaches free agency, even if he intends to re-sign with the team that acquires him, it makes sense for him to do so via free agency rather than via extension.